Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-01
Lady Notions on Male Beauty.

Handsome women are subjects for
critical judgment. especially when they
appear on the stage, writes New York
correspondent of the St Louis GLo6 e.
Democrat, but did it ever occur to you
that the professional beauties might
have views of masculine beauty as they
see it from their side of the foOtlights?
On thinking of it recently l at once set
out in hanson to do a bit of in
terviewing. My first call was on Fanny
Davenport, and | put the question
piumply to her.: 81. -s,'
'.Who is, the handsoMest man you
have ever seen in one of your audi
ences?"
"Ned Price," she promptly replied.
'.But he is your husband"
ITO be sure; but that doesn't alter the
fact"
Mr.. Price is well-built chap, aged
81, should guess, and his face is in
deed very bright and admirable. In at
tire he is something of a beau.
Next, l went to Nine. Modjeska with
my query. She, too, was inclined to
VOW supreme admiration of her hus-
band, but told her that had taken
that kind ofreply once and for all. Then
she said:
well, the handsomest auditor can
remember was Mr.. Nicholas Smith, tho
husband of one of Horace Greeley's
daughters. He used to 90 to the thea
ter a good deal, and usually sat in a
box, where he was conspicuous to me,
of course. He was big. lion-like man,
with a positively beautiful. yet manly
face. Yes, think Mr.. Smith is the
handsomest man l ever saw across the
footlights."
Wilson Barrett's principal actress,
Miss Eastlake, gave the palm of her
highest admiration to Lester Wallack.
tried to shake her verdict by Impeach-
ing it with the charge that he was
theatrical manager and was advanta-
geously exhibited to her in a private
box, but she declared that she rendered
it judiciously. Wallack is now white
haired, and his face is that of a veteran,
but his air is SO bewitchingly distin-'
guished and he retains so much of the
beauty that made him an idol quarter
of century ago, that l could readily
justify Miss Eastlakc's decision, May
Fortesque had in mind man who
had sat three rows from the front on
the previous evening He was a straw
berry blonde, but she did not know his
name, and couldn't place him.
1t was o'clock in. the afternoon
when alightcd at the residence of Mrs.
LaDgtry. A crowd was around the
place, and that is the case every day
about the time she starts for the thea
ter. A fire; 2how. of the famous beauty,
though limited to. her skurry from door
to carriage. seems to repay waiting f6r.'
She laughed at my question. and then
meditating awhile. .as though marshall
ing limo Of handsome men past the
eyes of her memory. .-,.-
Tho most beautiful man Irccalf from
ali my audiences. in America, orindced
anywhere else, bears the unpoeuc nanle
of Smith, l believe. ,Describe hjnl?
Yes; he had face at once masculine
and beautiful; nutbrown mustache
curled just enough; nose slightly
Roman, but symmetrical; soft brown
eyes. a model head. kindly expression,
and about 35."
His name was not exactly Smith,
though, but Sehmidts Edwin P.
Schmidt. noted as tho handsomest
man in Wall street. am told that he
made S500,000 in Northern Pacific -
along with Willard, and has lost it all
in other gamblos; but finance is beyond
my field, and am sure he is nowhere
near bankrupt in beauty